Tonight is a full moon.
After spending the afternoon playing with the others, Yuu took plenty of photos of beautiful scenery for Sora, sparking her desire to go out and have fun.
The Kyoto trip was nearing its end. After tomorrow's finals, Yuu and the others would take the train back to Tokyo, resuming their daily lives, not much different from usual.
Having finished soaking in the hot springs, Yuu strolled leisurely in the inn's backyard, wearing a yukata.
The yukata provided by this hot spring inn was different from the plain white ones at hotels, which revealed nothing once the sash was removed. This one was thick, dark green, and somewhat resembled a traditional yukata. Though November's temperature was low, as long as one wore clothes underneath and a scarf outside, it wasn't too cold.
Of course, with Yuu's current physical condition, even running naked outside wouldn't make him shiver or fall ill. He could still feel cold and heat, but he was resistant to the cold and robust.
Still, unless necessary, he'd act like an ordinary person. If it was cold, he'd wear more clothes. If it was hot, he'd wear less. He didn't want to stand out like a dazzling firework.
Because that would look silly.
The reason he wasn't inside the inn at night and was instead in the outdoor garden, enjoying the breeze and the moon, was simple.
He was waiting for someone.
November 11th, 11 p.m. In the quiet backyard of the inn, he waited with Koike Kiyotsuki and the others.
*👡👡👡*
The sound of sandals stepping on grass was soft and delicate, like feathers tickling the eardrums.
Yuu pulled his gaze from the sky and turned around.
The girl's silver hair blended with the moonlight, breathtakingly beautiful.
"Been waiting long?"
"Not long, as long as I don't go back to sleep."
"You're quite the talker."
Masuzu looked at him as he half-turned.
Perhaps, when someone falls in love, they get caught in an uncontrollable whirlwind.
She makes you cry, disappoints you, makes you suffer and feel confused—yet, when she stands there, you still walk toward her, holding her hand unconsciously.
Masuzu walked to his side, taking his arm. She gazed at the full moon at the edge of the night sky, her head gently resting on his shoulder.
"The moonlight is beautiful."
Feeling her warm, jade-like body temperature, Yuu smiled. "Is that a love confession?"
"Who confesses like that? Idiot!" Masuzu scolded softly. But with her flushed face, it had no effect at all. "For me, the anti-love advocate, to confess my feelings verbally, you'd need a few hundred more years. So, go become an immortal vampire and come back!"
Yuu looked relaxed. "Then you can confess my feelings through a message. Or maybe telepathy works too. Words are just a medium. As long as our hearts are connected, that's enough."
"You're so stubborn…" Masuzu sighed in resignation. "Why do you even like me?"
A cold breeze blew. As the girl instinctively shrugged, Yuu wrapped his arm around her shoulder, building a warm, sturdy fortress for her.
"Reasons? There are tons. I don't know if I can list them all."
Yuu showed a nostalgic expression. "First, you're super pretty and have a great figure."
"So shallow." Masuzu critiqued, "But I like it."
"Then, your personality's bad. Like mine."
"Who says that to their girlfriend?" Masuzu frowned. "But I like it."
"Also, you lack common sense, have skewed views, a dark background, use any means necessary, seem strong but are weak inside, arrogant yet insecure…"
"Aren't those all flaws?! Do you actually hate me?" Masuzu glared at him, her tone resentful. "But, I like it!"
"Hah… What I like most is how, as our fake relationship gradually turned real, your expression was so sweet."
A smile curved his lips. Yuu held her, memories flashing through his mind.
Threatened into being a fake boyfriend, going home together for the first time, causing a stir at school, eating lunch together in the woods, meeting Natsukawa Mana after a blind date…
They'd been through many strange events together. During the autumn trip, he saw her heart change. He felt at ease when she leaned on him and acted spoiled, gradually realizing her place in his heart was growing more important.
The journey with Masuzu was like driving at high speed on a rocky road. The path was rough, the scenery not always beautiful. Yet, her wind-tousled, messy smile stayed etched in his mind.
The most beautiful sight was perhaps her gradual change. From a gloomy, twisted start to now being a naturally open, sometimes shy, sometimes bold girl.
Unknowingly, these shadows had filled his heart, making him unwilling to give up, unwilling to leave—if he left, who else would stay by Masuzu's side but him?
Who would eat lunch with her when she was lonely? Who would carry her to bed when she was sick?
And who could handle her troublesome personality, quickly countering her selfishness or sudden jokes, making her show a satisfied, proud smile?
Only him.
In this world, only Yuu could be Masuzu's boyfriend—so he couldn't leave her, and she couldn't leave him.
…But what was the point of reaching this conclusion?
"Yuu?"
After his sweet words, Yuu fell silent. Masuzu couldn't help but look up, gazing at him in confusion.
His profile was strikingly handsome under the dim moonlight. Not too masculine or feminine—just perfectly attractive. Her heart felt deep comfort.
Though Masuzu had seen this face countless times, every time she did, her empty chest quickly filled with warmth. It was like a migratory bird finding its direction, or a winter snake finding its nest.
Masuzu carefully savored this feeling. She no longer ran or pretended not to see—perhaps this was also how she felt with her mother, right?
She'd almost forgotten. After all, it had been years since she saw her mother.
She unconsciously tightened her grip. Then she realized his hand supported her like a pillar, warding off all loneliness.
At a distance where even the wind couldn't slip through, a burning, overflowing feeling gradually emerged.
(Thank goodness he's by my side.)
She always thought her path was dark and lonely, used by her father as a tool and showpiece. So, no matter how twisted or lowly she was, it didn't matter. Villains should look like villains. Sooner or later, she'd be destroyed by the protagonists' light. So, she might as well do whatever she wanted while she could move.
And just like that, the scenery before her changed. In the quiet, lonely night, there was warmth like the sun shining on her.
Hah, it was like the ending of a beautiful fairy tale.
Her life, Natsukawa Masuzu's, was supposed to be a dark fairy tale…
"Yuu, there's something I want to tell you."
Masuzu looked up, her eyes clear.
Under the moon, her smile seemed to glow.
"Same here. You go first."
Yuu replied with a smile.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
They walked along a stone path, strolling by the edge of the ancient courtyard.
Under the cold breeze, everything was silent. Only the leaves whispered with the moon's shadow. But by their side, it was like spring—no trace of cold could penetrate.
"My mother came from a Northern European country. They say she fell in love with my father, a Japanese businessman, at first sight. She came to Japan alone, despite her family's disapproval."
Masuzu recounted the story in a soft, flat tone. "The Natsukawa family was a wealthy, renowned family in the area. So my childhood was happy. I was always with my mother, never lacking food or clothes—but I don't have many memories of my father."
"My father really disliked children. Since I was little, I only remember seeing him talk to my mother and the servants from afar. It wasn't until kindergarten that I realized others could go home with their dads, be carried on their shoulders, and have such good relationships with them."
"But it didn't matter, because I still had my mom. It was just a bit different from others… Then, not long after, my mom took me away from the Natsukawa family."
Masuzu looked at her toes, a faint smile on her lips. "Though my world changed from a big mansion to a small apartment, I didn't feel unhappy… Because as long as I was with my mom, it didn't matter how things were."
"Looking back, the time alone with my mom was truly wonderful. She loved Japanese JUMP. You must know her favorite work—the universal masterpiece, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. She'd read it to me with such enthusiasm, not even skipping sounds like gogogogogogo. It made me love JoJo more and adore the works that made her smile."
"She always smiled brightly in front of me, but she cried where I couldn't see."
Sadness flickered in her eyes. Masuzu deftly hid these emotions, smiling at him.
"Then, when I was seven, my father finally came to our apartment—I still can't forget it. He just said his name through the intercom. My mom jumped for joy like a child, spinning me around, her face full of excitement and happiness."
"She still loved my father. If he could've reunited with her, maybe I wouldn't have seen her cry secretly anymore. That would've been good."
"Sadly, my father didn't come for her. He only wanted me—to expand connections in Sweden, he needed a beautiful, obedient daughter to help him. As for my mom? She wasn't needed, of course."
"Of course, his words back then were very polished. He only said one day he'd bring her abroad to reunite us… But in reality, it was just a fabricated lie."
Masuzu looked up, taking a deep breath toward the full moon, as if she wanted to shout to the sky, You bastard!, but she only gripped Yuu's hand tightly, closed her eyes, and let him lead her forward.
Her sandals stepped on the stones. The streetlights among the grass stretched their side-by-side shadows, swaying faintly.
"My mom said, 'Masuzu, you'll be happier raised as a Natsukawa daughter, and I'll join you soon, just wait there,' but she never appeared before me again. Instead, there was a stepmother—the mother of that damn blonde pig."
"I think she kind of likes you…" Yuu, who'd been silent for a long time, finally grumbled with a wry smile.
"Anyway, back then, I hated both of them. What I hated most was that hypocritical, cold-blooded man… Do you know what he said to me when I was only nine?"
Masuzu gave a cold smile. Her words felt like they could freeze.
"'No matter what you think inside, I just want you to act like a harmonious family with me at this event. Why you, Masuzu? Because you're beautiful like a gem.'"
"Bringing back the beautiful daughter of an ex-wife while maintaining a harmonious relationship with his new wife. A man like that would be praised and trusted in society. Don't you think so?"
"—He openly revealed his intentions to me, a child."
Seeing her expression still filled with hatred, Yuu fell silent.
He could lower himself to talk with a high schooler and say such cruel things with a smiling face… Natsukawa Ryouji was far more pragmatic than Yuu had imagined.
He wasn't entirely evil. He was just a profit-driven businessman who saw his family as commodities—but that made him even more repulsive.
"You should've told me earlier," Yuu sighed.
"Why?" Masuzu tilted her head, her silver hair flowing like a waterfall.
Yuu replied matter-of-factly, "So I'd have a reason to punch his face! As long as I said it was a family matter, I wouldn't be banned from the match. I'm also sure no one else would've seen it."
"…"
Masuzu froze for a moment, then happily rubbed her cheek against his arm. "Even if it's just words, I'm already so happy."
(I didn't just say it. If you don't believe me, ask your dear Sugou-san…)
(If he still remembers getting beaten up hard.)
Yuu didn't voice those thoughts. He just quietly squeezed her hand, signaling her to continue.
"Of course, I firmly refused him. And at high-society parties, I kept striking JoJo poses with my back to everyone—then I was confined for a month. I wasn't allowed downstairs, nor to send letters to my mom in Japan."
"Then, Mana's mother told me I had to use him, just like she did."
"Those who exploit will always be exploited… So from then on, to see my mom, I followed my father's words. I kept acting as the Natsukawa family's gem, suppressing the Crazy Diamond that always wanted to burst out, becoming the perfect Natsukawa daughter."
While speaking, she didn't forget to joke. Masuzu gave a self-mocking smile. "Since then, I haven't recognized myself."
"Unlike here, my disguise abroad was flawless. No one could see the perverse, filthy soul behind the Young Lady's facade. I used that identity to generate countless money and connections for the Natsukawa family."
She looked at Yuu, her face resigned but also slightly calm. "But I don't know why… My disguise with you never worked well."
They walked to a stone bench. Yuu took out his handkerchief to wipe the dew off the seat. He sat beside her.
"My butt's cold… Can I sit on your lap?"
"Sure…" Yuu turned to face her. Masuzu's face flushed. The hem of her yukata lifted slightly, revealing her fair skin. "Don't sit with your back to me. Sit sideways."
"Why not…" Grumbling, like when they ate lunch at the stone pavilion, Masuzu sat on his lap in a princess-carry position.
She let out a lazy sigh, her head resting on his chest. "Alright, I'll continue~ After that, since I didn't receive letters from my mom or the JoJo volumes she secretly sent, I angrily confronted my dad. But he just gave evasive answers… So I decided to get close to the servants and secretly return to Japan, to the apartment I lived in with my mom. I wanted to see her again, but I didn't expect everything to have changed."
"The apartment was fancier, the rent was higher, and my mom was gone… But the JoJo volumes were still in the room. So I decided to stay and wait for her to return in that room."
"Because she left a message for me—'Read these volumes while waiting for me to come back,' right? That must be it!"
Her voice was childlike, filled with stubborn, sincere hope. Her face glowed with a hopeful smile.
"From that day, I worked harder to be my father's tool, so he'd see my value… Until September this year, I could finally return and live in that promised place. One day, I'll surely reunite with my mom."
Masuzu raised her hand. Her cold fingers gently touched his chin.
"Then I came to Sobu High and met you, met Dango-chan, met all of you."
Her palm cupped his cheek. She squinted, smiling sincerely.
"Though I'm a cunning, despicable person, just thinking there are people as good as you all in this world makes me so happy… That alone is enough for me to keep living. Being with you and Dango-chan is definitely the best choice."